Bacon-wrapped jalapenos with cream cheese

It’s that in-between time of year: too late for football-season finger foods, but too early to break out the barbeque.

Solution? Use this game-day inspired recipe to tide you over. It’s quick, it’s simple and it’s just the right amount of spicy.

Bacon-wrapped jalapenos

10 large jalapeno peppers

2 8-ounce packages cream cheese

10 strips thick-cut bacon

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Cut washed peppers in half, remove seed and stem. Spoon a generous amount of cream cheese in each pepper, around 2 or 3 tablespoons, depending on its size. Press halves together, wrap with a full piece of bacon and insert a toothpick to secure. Line a baking sheet with foil and bake until crisp, about 25 to 30 minutes.

You can use a mesh oven tray or broiler pan to cut down on the grease, but you’ll sacrifice some flavor.

Quick tip: Modify this recipe to a more mild heat by leaving the peppers in half when you wrap them. Best part? It will give you an excuse to add more bacon. You can also mix shredded Colby into the cream cheese for a less-threatening flavor.